Lemon grass or Cymbopogon citratus is a tropical, evergreen, perennial grass that is aromatic and grows up to 1.5 m tall. It is also known as tanglad or sereh in the Philippines and Indonesia where it is profusely cultivated for its fragrant leaves that are used in cooking and brewing tea. The heart of the young shoots is cooked and eaten as a vegetable. The leaves and the essential oil are used in traditional medicine to relieve spasms and increase perspiration. It is also used to treat digestive ailments, arthritis pains, and various skin conditions. The essential oil can also be used in perfumery and making cosmetics and soaps. Lemon grass is used in swarm traps to attract swarms. It also has an ability to repel stable fly and is useful for soil improvement and erosion control. It is grown from division of established clumps.
